Community-based organizations (CBO) provide amazing social services throughout our state. Without these entities efforts, hundreds of thousands of local residents would have a harder time getting food, finding housing services or relief from domestic violence, helping keiki in need, etc. This never-ending work is performed day in and day out.
But that work is in real jeopardy, which was readily apparent well before the current concerns about federal and state cutbacks on contract work, annual funding, and grants that help local non-profits perform their irreplaceable, indispensable work.
While private fundraising often provides basic CBO funding, those investments alone cannot support all the work being done by nonprofits. And if (when?) some of these long-admired agencies shut their doors or cut back on services due to staffing shortages and other financial hardships, who will pick up the slack? The government? Not gonna happen. The work of these organizations is vital to our community.
Our local legislature is in conference committee proceedings this week, so now would be an ideal time to remind them that the current payment system to CBOs is out of whack. Many nonprofits are getting paid the same amounts for current government contracts that they’ve been paid for over 15-years! With inflation, rent, cost of living increases, and the general price of everything going up since 2010, how can these agencies continue to do crucial work tomorrow when they’re still being paid yesterday’s rates?! And if CBOs turn this necessary work down, then what?
A local 2022 survey indicated that 91% of CBOs’ government contracts didn’t fully cover basic operating costs; 79% acknowledged they’d cut administrative expenses; 56% reduced staff salaries (making it harder to find quality workers). The parade of financial horribles goes on, as does the desire and strong social ethics of these CBOs to help our community- whenever, wherever, and however. 40% of organizations surveyed said they might have to cease operations if funding challenges persist. And that was 2022, when COVID funding was in play to help.
It’s long past time for legislators (with your supportive voices) to right wrongs, not just pontificate that “the keiki are our future”. Prove it. Our social safety net is unraveling, and those in need will not-so-slowly fall through widening cracks when services and/or personnel are further cut back. The True Cost Coalition of 70+ community-based entities is simply asking for financial fairness. Is anyone listening?
Think about it…